Health and Wellbeing - Change4Life

Change4Life

We're supporting Change4Life in their latest drive to encourage families to 'make a swap when you next shop'. Just one or two everyday swaps can really make a difference to how much sugar your child is getting, whilst still keeping them happy.

Simple swap ideas

  • Simply swapping from a higher-sugar yoghurt (like a split-pot yoghurt) to a lower sugar yoghurt can halve the sugar your child gets from yoghurts whilst still keeping them happy.
  • Cut out 50 cubes of sugar by swapping from a higher-sugar box of cereal to a low-sugar cereal one. 
  • Cut out over half the sugar your child is getting from drinks by swapping from a higher-sugar juice drink to a no added sugar drink.

Most of the sugar children are having comes from sugary drinks, confectionery, biscuits, cakes, desserts, higher-sugar breakfast cereals and higher-sugar yoghurts and it can add up throughout the day.

Change4Life is helping families to easily cut back on sugar by making a few simple swaps to their everyday food and drinks. Supermarkets and other shops will also be highlighting healthier options in-store and in their own advertising and many will be using a new Change4Life 'good choice' badge to make it even easier for families to spot healthier choices.

Get involved

  • Share your swaps, healthy packed lunches, meal ideas and tips via @CumbriaCC on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #HealthySwapsCumbria to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes from local leisure providers Better and Life Leisure, including family swimming and activity passes. We'll be searching the hashtag regularly to pick the best.
  • See the Change4Life website for swap tips, more offers and low-cost meal ideas.
  • Get the new Be Food Smart app to see how much sugar, salt and sat fat is really inside your food and get cooking with the updated Smart Recipes app. Download both for free from the App store or Google Play.
  • Look for the Change4Life 'Good Choice' badge in supermarkets to make finding healthier options easier.
  • School Zone - Explore teaching resources for primary school classes and be inspired by Rise Above lesson plans for secondary schools. Change4Life School Zone.

Remember to make a swap when you next shop.